Second
year head coach Gregg Brandon did in one
season what many thought would take a few.
The consistency and maturity the troops
under his watch exhibited make us/most extremely
anticipatory for the '04 campaign. The new
QB he has to shape will assuredly make this
version of the Falcon's as good as the last
Harris-lead squad, if not better. It is
a tough call to predict someone can replace
the complete package Josh Harris was to
this team, but here we go. Omar Jacobs will
make Harris an afterthought once he hits
on all cylinders. But how long might that
take? The defense is experienced enough
(especially within knowing each other's
abilities) that foes will not be able to
do what they did in '03. The linemen and
CBs tapped will make teams have to go over
the middle, so watch the safeties to gauge
how far along this defense has come.

Bowling
Green is the MAC team with that Cinderella
potential for this go-around. The spotlight
hits them as they go to Norman, so the press
coverage will make them an instant national
conversation piece. Brandon will have his
squad ready, and, though a win is unrealistic
versus OU, look for a quality showing (and
respectable performances from all, especially
Jacobs) to have many buzzing about the Falcon's
destiny. The stripes earned here will make
their third tilt (nationally televised)
in DeKalb, Ill. (9/24 versus Northern Illinois)
a win, watch and see!

Eventually,
they end with Marshall and then at Toledo,
for what likely are the MAC game(s) to determine
the west half's winner. Toledo has the wares
to make it tough for the Falcons, as Brad
Gradkowski is the seasoned vet Jacobs looks
to become. Expect a spanking for Bowling
Green then, which will let us know exactly
what the next offseason will focus upon.
But then, 2005 looks bad for the BGSU's
opponents once all of these kinks are not
there anymore.

QuarterbackOmar
Jacobs is finally going to get his chance. After
seeing a few "real game" scenarios,
this physical specimen will bring a capable set
of speedy feet and an even better head for football.
Jacobs will play a similar style to Josh Harris,
so there is little for Omar's teammates to adjust
to. The Fort Lauderdale QB represents a potential
(marginal) improvement, though that may not be
seen for anywhere from a few games to the entire
season. We think he will be a quick study who
can actually take the team to the next level.
Converted-WR (who was actually a QB first) Van
Johnson is another quick, multi-dimensional leader,
which is a sharp contrast to third-string frosh
Nick Thurman's drop-back approach. The backups
are green, but they make this unit a strength
many do not boast. The adjustments from Harris
should not be too extensive, but (early) dilemmas
are sure to arise.

Running
BackJuniors
B.J. Pope and P.J. Lane both return for a seasoned
one-two punch the Falcons will ride for consistent
success. Pope is the bigger of the two, and he
is sure-handed enough to garner 48 catches, too.
Lane slashes more, but is capable of bowling defenders
over like Pope. The depth of Raishaun Stover and
Dan Macon make this the best RB unit in the MAC.
Along with Jacobs, this is a ground-gaining machine
that will surely be enough to beat many opponents
by itself. The Falcons ranked 21st nationally
when running, and should be able to actually improve
on those results as the ground game is relied
on at first.

ReceiverThe
three- (and four-) receiver sets Bowling Green
utilizes are deceptive with the amount of running
they do. Cole Magner returns after having the
second most catches in all of I-A. His formidable
size represents this entire corps - they all can
either go over the middle and/or the top to snarl
the ball, or go helmet-to-helmet when ball-carriers
swing it there direction. Charles Sharon and James
Hawkins will again be deep threats who will make
room underneath. The entire unit is strong, and
since the Falcons run and pass the ball the same
amount, you can bank again on six players (including
Pope) achieving 29+ receptions.

Tight
EndSteve
Navarro is going to be Bowling Green's main end,
but utilization of his talents will not fulfill
his potential. He has the dubious honor of providing
that extra protection Jacobs may need. When you
see the TE downfield more, you will know the offense
is making strides in its development.

Offensive
LineFor
such a formidable bunch, this is (misleadingly)
the weakest unit on this offense. We say this
because three of the five starters return, and
all are upperclassmen. Their center is solid -
converted-guard Scott Mruczkowski will be a national
Rimington finalist (if healthy). Meanwhile, junior
guard Rob Warren will tightly weave with Mruczkowski
to form the conference's top inside tandem. The
tackles are less worthy of praise, but all will
again tightly align to make this entire group
essentially the same quality as they were in '03
when the Falcon's ranked third offensively for
the country.

OFFENSIVE
BREAKDOWNThe
only truly negative factor this offense will experience
is when most compare them to the amazing (individual)
job Harris accomplished. The balance he created
will again be seen with Jacobs, but, as expected,
it will take an unpredictable amount of time for
Jacobs development(s) to evolve. The break-in
period will be easy to take - if Jacobs doesn't
personally make the anticipated amount of waves,
the RBs and WRs (alone) are strong enough to carry
the team to wins. Accordingly, expect more runs
than passes for a while. But just when teams begin
to stack the box, we will see OC Greg Studrawa
put it over foes' heads. The measuring stick for
these guys to their predecessors will be when
they reach 2003's 50% third-down conversion rate.
Only early opponents will have any chance of having
strong defensive showings.

TB
P.J. Pope

BOWLING
GREEN 2004 DEPTH CHARTReturning Starters in bold

OFFENSE

QB

Omar
Jacobs-So (6-4, 224)

Van
Johnson-So (6-1, 197)

TB

P.J.
Pope-Jr (5-9, 216)

B.J.
Lane-Jr (5-10, 191)

WR

James
Hawkins-Sr (6-1, 231)

Cornelius
McGrady-Sr (6-3, 205)

WR

Charles
Sharon-Jr (6-1, 178)

Derrick
Lett-Jr (6-0, 181)

H

Cole
Magner-Sr (6-2, 196)

Brandon
Jones-So (6-0, 167)

E

Steve
Sanders-Jr (6-3, 201)

Justin
Martin-So (5-10, 169)

TE

Todd
DiBacco-Sr (6-1, 254)

Sean
O'Drobinak-Fr (6-4, 249)

OT

Andrew
Hart-Sr (6-5, 297)

Drew
Nystrom-Fr (6-5, 304)

OG

Kory
Lichtensteiger-Fr (6-3, 300)

Patrick
Watson-Fr (6-5, 293)

C

Scott
Mruczkowski-Sr (6-4, 319)

John
Lanning-So (6-4, 294)

OG

Andy
Grubb-Sr (6-4, 294)

Andy
Wenstrup-Sr (6-5, 285)

OT

Rob
Warren-Jr (6-6, 296)

Jonathan
Culp-Jr (6-6, 288)

K

Shaun
Suisham-Sr (6-0, 200)

Nate
Fry-Jr (5-10, 211)

2004
DEFENSE

Defensive
LineThe
tough-to-take days of allowing over four yards
per run try are over. With all four starters back,
this group will be improved since they have already
gelled as a unit. Mitch Crossley is the most experienced,
and fellow-end Devon Parks is about to be just
as strong. The two ends will make for mismatch
problems - one has to be double-teamed, or else.
The inside presence is also consistent, making
its way into the backfield often. It is almost
funny how so much talent, with respectable numbers
(59th in I-A for run defense), could often not
stop opponents. This time they will achieve early
and often. With four (of eight) of the subs being
upperclassmen, this unit will not be upheaved
as the Falcon's defensive anchor.

LinebackerThis
next defensive tier is also an asset. Jovon Burkes
and Ted Piepkow are returning starters who can
defend the run and pass equally well. MLB Burkes
is the biggest backer (234), so the smallish size
of this unit exemplifies their adaptability and
speed. Including first-time starter Dan Sayles
(senior), this corp's consistency and liability
will continue. These guys are almost interchangeable.
Depth here drops off somewhat in talent, so the
health of each will be important.

Defensive
BackThis
constitutes another area where the Falcons return
a majority of their quality starters. Senior Keon
Newson is a big enough CB to make it in the NFL,
a place his talents say he is surely headed. For
2003, his 15 Pass-BreakUps, 9.5 TFLs, 124 tackles
(78 solo), and six forced fumbles make him all-American
candidate (that we obviously forgot). Counterpart
Jelani Jordan is worth his weight, too, but not
better than all-MAC (oh well). It is a bad omen
when the CBs tackle more/better than the other
DBs. The safeties are another drop in quality,
meaning that foes who get free in the deep middle
will again burn the Falcons. This unit should
again rank no better than top 50.

DEFENSIVE
BREAKDOWNThe
compliment we give this side of the ball has to
do with how they ranked in the middle nationally
for most categories, yet were 33rd in scoring
defense. This shows a pension for bending without
breaking, another way to say they keep the play
in front of themselves well. With eight starters
back, this means their instincts will allow them
to close and finish that much better. The LB's
speed allows BGSU's middle dimension to move and
adapt to whatever is thrown at them. Their solid
play will fuel the entire squad. The line will
be the most consistent part, so look for any teams
that run on them with success to win. One concern
is how teams scored quite a bit more in the second
half (foes had 126 points in the first half and
178 in the second). Another is only 11 INTs from
'03. These guys have the potential to rule the
MAC, but could also be responsible for a few losses.
Watch defensive progress to see how far the entire
team will go.

SS
Keon Newson

BOWLING
GREEN 2004 DEPTH CHARTReturning Starters in bold

DEFENSE

DE

Mitchell
Crossley-Jr (6-3, 248)

Ryan
Newble-Sr (6-4, 258)

NG

Mike
Thaler-Jr (6-1, 281)

Monty
Cooley-Jr (6-2, 276)

DT

Matt
Leininger-Jr (6-3, 279)

Brad
Williams-So (6-3, 259)

DE

Devon
Parks-So (6-3, 239)

Jason
Hollingsworth-So (6-3, 208)

SLB

Daniel
Sayles-Sr (5-11, 211)

Terrel
White-So (5-10, 232)
Lavelle Sharpe-Jr (5-11, 220)

MLB

Jovon
Burkes-Sr (6-1, 240)

Jamien
Johnson-Jr (6-1, 232)

WLB

Ted
Piepkow-Jr (6-0, 228)

Jenkins
Reese-Fr (6-3, 227)

CB

Terrill
Mayberry-Jr (5-11, 169)

Tim
Arnold-Jr (5-9, 200)

CB

Jelani
Jordan-Jr (5-10, 177)

John
Nicholson-Jr (5-9, 190)

SS

Keon
Newson-Sr (6-0, 190)

Deaudre
Perry-Fr (6-1, 214)

FS

T.J.
Carswell-Sr (6-1, 200)

Loren
Hargrove-Fr (5-11, 203)

P

Nate
Fry-Jr (5-10, 211)

Josef
Timchenko-Jr (6-4, 221)

2004
SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker/PunterPK
Shaun Suisham is another consistent Falcon. Though not
a power, he never lost a game for them, so he is not
a liability from a psychological standpoint. Like many
at this level, Suisham is strong from inside the fourty,
but marginal from further out. Junior punter Nate Fry
will continue to improve (from 40+), but more has to
be done in the punt coverage area. Defensive depth will
allow for such, as well as better kick coverage, too.

Return
GameBJ
Lane and WR Charles Sharon are poised to make this area
an asset. Sharon is proven as both types of return man,
while Lane is the preferred KR guy for '04. Funny, but
Cole Magner did pretty bad at both positions, though
he is still in the mix. This area will be critical right
off, for field position battles when fostering a new
QB are essential.